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Technical sales representative: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 26, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$104,920median pay per year, or $50.44 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $52,600lowest 10% earn less
  2. $75,03025th percentile
  3. $104,920median
  4. $158,16075th percentile
  5. $200,440top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

Wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives who sell technical or scientific products had a median pay of $104,920 a year in May 2025[1]. Employment is projected to grow 1.2% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% rate for all occupations[2][3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+1.2%[2]
Openings per year
23,600[6]
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree[7]

How much do technical and scientific sales representatives make?

The official BLS category is Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products. Its median pay was $104,920 a year, or $50.44 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The average was $119,730 a year, or $57.56 an hour[8]. The median for all occupations was $50,980 a year[5].

The range is very wide. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $52,600 a year, and the lowest-paid 25% earned less than $75,030[4]. The top-paid 25% earned more than $158,160, and the top-paid 10% earned more than $200,440[4]. Hourly, those marks were $25.29, $36.07, $76.04 and $96.37[9].

Measure Annual wage Hourly wage
10th percentile[4][9] $52,600 $25.29
25th percentile[4][9] $75,030 $36.07
Median[1] $104,920 $50.44
75th percentile[4][9] $158,160 $76.04
90th percentile[4][9] $200,440 $96.37

A percentile wage is a boundary, and BLS does not publish a starting salary[10]. These wages leave out self-employed workers, certain bonuses and the cost of benefits[11].

Pay by state and city

Colorado had the top state median at $135,000, followed by New Jersey at $131,360 and Kansas at $130,850[12]. Arkansas was last on the list at $71,830[12].

The states with the most jobs were Texas (44,400), California (27,590), Florida (19,840), North Carolina (11,990) and Massachusetts (11,650)[13].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA had the top median at $167,630, then Shreveport-Bossier City, LA at $163,320 and Rochester, MN at $160,960[14]. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington had the most jobs, at 13,400, with a median of $99,270[15]. Boston-Cambridge-Newton had 8,670 jobs and a median of $122,550[15].

Show median pay in 48 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
Colorado[12]$135,0004,150
New Jersey$131,3605,600
Kansas$130,8502,440
New York$129,41010,500
Georgia$128,8505,700
Virginia$128,2706,060
Washington$127,3909,960
Hawaii$126,110540
Michigan$125,6509,140
North Carolina$125,37011,990
California$124,22027,590
Louisiana$124,2002,340
Massachusetts$118,98011,650
Rhode Island$117,670530
Oregon$113,8303,040
South Carolina$111,1903,760
Ohio$108,3709,870
Delaware$107,830960
Florida$107,70019,840
Illinois$107,5707,350
Pennsylvania$103,7907,190
Iowa$103,3802,580
Minnesota$103,0004,960
Indiana$102,9104,370
North Dakota$102,720510
Maine$101,850n/a
Idaho$101,3901,880
Wyoming$100,850280
Arizona$100,6208,860
Texas$99,08044,400
Nevada$98,5001,880
Connecticut$98,0002,980
New Hampshire$97,9602,660
Kentucky$97,6404,170
West Virginia$97,230760
Vermont$95,900410
Maryland$95,0406,330
Missouri$94,8405,060
Tennessee$94,4508,290
District of Columbia$92,940600
New Mexico$87,310980
Alabama$87,1402,780
Nebraska$84,4001,700
Montana$83,610690
Wisconsin$78,4803,390
Alaska$77,080440
Mississippi$74,990810
Oklahoma$72,4803,970
Arkansas$71,8301,520

How to become a technical or scientific sales representative

Some training details below come from a BLS profile that covers a wider group of related occupations[16]. The usual path in the BLS projections looks like this[7]:

ONET describes the job as needing technical or scientific knowledge in areas such as biology, engineering, chemistry and electronics, normally gained from at least 2 years of study after high school[17]. In an ONET survey of 30 workers, 39% said a bachelor's degree is required, 30% said some college courses, 14% said a high school diploma or equivalent and 14% said a post-secondary certificate[18]. That is a small survey, so treat it as a rough picture.

The wider BLS profile says sales representatives who sell scientific and technical products usually need a bachelor's degree, and it names pharmaceuticals, medical instruments and industrial equipment as examples[19]. A degree in a field linked to the product is sometimes required[19].

Many companies have formal training programs for beginners, and some last as long as a year[20]. New hires may also ride along on sales calls with experienced workers until they get their own territory[21]. Professional certification is not required, but some representatives choose to earn it[22].

What technical and scientific sales representatives do

O*NET lists these tasks, with the most important first[23]:

Where they work

This section draws on the wider BLS profile[16]. Merchant wholesalers of durable goods were the largest employer group, at 33% of workers[24]. Some representatives cover large territories and travel a lot, and may be away from home for days or weeks[25]. Others spend much of their time on the phone, taking orders and resolving problems, and they also reach clients by chat, email and video[26]. Income and job security often depend on how much a representative sells, and companies usually set quotas, which can bring considerable stress[27]. BLS says most representatives have full-time jobs, and many put in over 40 hours a week[28]. Only 2.4% of workers in this category were self-employed in 2025[29].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 1.2% from 2025 to 2035, from about 292,000 to 295,500 jobs, a gain of 3,500[2]. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5% over the same years[3]. These counts include self-employed workers[2], while the OEWS count of about 284,800 covers wage and salary jobs in May 2025[30].

About 23,600 openings are projected each year on average[6]. Openings include jobs left by workers who retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year, 3% of workers are projected to leave the labor force and 5% to move to a different occupation[31].

BLS names one factor for this job. Generative AI is expected to lower the occupation's share of employment as it becomes part of the sales process, freeing representatives to focus on direct selling[32].

Is it a good fit?

The typical entry route is a bachelor's degree with no related experience, followed by moderate-term on-the-job training[7]. Pay is well above the all-occupations median, and the range runs from $52,600 at the 10th percentile to $200,440 at the 90th[5][4]. Growth is projected to be slow, with about 23,600 openings a year[2][6]. The wider BLS profile notes travel, phone work and sales quotas, so the day-to-day can differ by employer[25][26][27].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[33].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a technical sales representative make an hour?
The median was $50.44 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $57.56[1][8]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $25.29 an hour and the top-paid 10% earned more than $96.37[9].
What degree do you need to be a technical sales representative?
BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry education[7]. In an O*NET survey of 30 workers, 39% named a bachelor's degree as required[18].
Is technical and scientific sales in demand?
Employment is projected to grow 1.2% from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations[2][3]. About 23,600 openings are projected each year[6].
What is the highest paying state for this job?
Colorado had the top state median at $135,000, followed by New Jersey at $131,360[12].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products in the US was $104,920 per year and $50.44 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products is projected to grow 1.2% from 2025 to 2035, from about 292,000 to 295,500 jobs (a change of +3,500). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products: 10th percentile $52,600, 25th percentile $75,030, 75th percentile $158,160, 90th percentile $200,440. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 23,600 openings for Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products was $119,730 per year and $57.56 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products: 10th percentile $25.29, 25th percentile $36.07, 75th percentile $76.04, 90th percentile $96.37. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. Median annual wage for Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products jobs: Texas 44,400; California 27,590; Florida 19,840; North Carolina 11,990; Massachusetts 11,650. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products (areas with at least 100 jobs): San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $167,630; Shreveport-Bossier City, LA $163,320; Rochester, MN $160,960; Topeka, KS $157,760; Spartanburg, SC $138,750; Boulder, CO $136,180; Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $136,100; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $133,690. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products jobs: Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 13,400 (median $99,270); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 8,670 (median $122,550); Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX 8,620 (median $83,170); Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 7,910 (median $129,550); Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 7,800 (median $100,980); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 7,800 (median $133,690). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Wholesale and Manufacturing Sales Representatives" covers Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. O*NET description of Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products. O*NET OnLine
  18. O*NET 41-4011.00 survey of workers (30 respondents), education level they say is required: Bachelor's Degree 39%, Some College Courses 30%, High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 14%, Post-Secondary Certificate 14% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. O*NET task list for Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products. O*NET OnLine
  24. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives in 2025: Merchant wholesalers, durable goods 33%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. BLS Employment Projections: 2.4% of Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  30. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 284,800 people were employed as Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  31. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products: 3% of workers leave the labor force each year and 5% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  32. BLS Employment Projections, factor affecting employment of Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products: Productivity change - share decreases as generative artificial intelligence (AI) is integrated into the sales process allowing sales representatives to focus on direct sales activity. BLS Employment Projections
  33. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.